Integrated Ocean Observing System

About: Integrated Ocean Observing System is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 199 publications have been published within this topic receiving 1512 citations.

World Ocean Database

Abstract: The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) World Ocean Database 2009, released in November as an update to the 2005 version, provides about 9.1 million temperature profiles and 3.5 million salinity reports, with some information dating as far back as 1800. The updated database includes scientific information about the oceans that can be sorted in various ways, including geographically or by year. “There is now more data about the global oceans than ever before,” according to Sydney Levitus, director of the World Data Center for Oceanography, part of NOAA's National Oceanographic Data Center. “Previous databases have shown the world ocean has warmed during the last 53 years, and it's crucial we have reliable, accurate monitoring of our oceans into the future,” he said. The database is a part of the Integrated Ocean Observing System and the Global Earth Observation System of Systems.

Remote Sensing and Global Environmental Change

Abstract: Preface. Acknowledgements. 1 Introduction. 1.1 Key concepts. 2 Remote sensing basics. 2.1 Electromagnetic waves. 2.2 The electromagnetic spectrum. 2.3 Reflectance and radiance. 2.4 Atmospheric effects. 2.5 Multispectral feature recognition. 2.6 Resolution requirements. 2.7 Key concepts. 3 Remote sensors and systems. 3.1 Introduction. 3.2 Remote sensors. 3.2.1 Multispectral satellite sensors. 3.2.2 Digital aerial cameras. 3.2.3 Thermal infrared sensors. 3.2.4 Radar and microwave radiometers. 3.2.5 Laser profilers. 3.3 Remote sensing platforms. 3.3.1 Airborne platforms. 3.3.2 Medium-resolution satellites. 3.3.3 High-resolution satellites. 3.3.4 Global observation satellites. 3.4 The NASA Earth observing system. 3.5 Global Earth observation systems. 3.5.1 Global Climate Observing System. 3.5.2 Global Earth Observation System of Systems. 3.5.3 Integrated Ocean Observing System. 3.6 Existing image archives. 3.7 Key concepts. 4 Digital image analysis. 4.1 Image data format. 4.2 Image pre-processing. 4.3 Image enhancement and interpretation. 4.4 Image classification. 4.5 Image band selection. 4.6 Error assessment. 4.7 Time-series analysis and change detection. 4.8 Field sampling using GPS. 4.9 Use of Geographic Information Systems. 4.10 Key concepts. 5 Monitoring changes in global vegetation cover. 5.1 EM spectrum of vegetation. 5.2 Vegetation indices. 5.3 Biophysical properties and processes of vegetation. 5.4 Classification systems. 5.5 Global vegetation and land cover mapping programmes. 5.5.1 NASA Pathfinder global monitoring project. 5.5.2 International geosphere-biosphere program. 5.5.3 Application of new satellites and radar. 5.6 Remote sensing of vegetation as a monitor for global change. CASE STUDY: Desertification in the African Sahel. CASE STUDY: Deforestation of Amazonia. 5.7 Remote sensing of wetlands change. 5.8 Fire detection. 5.9 Key concepts. 6 Remote sensing of urban environments. 6.1 Urbanization. 6.2 Urban remote sensing. 6.2.1 Three-dimensional urban model generation. 6.2.2 Stereo imaging. 6.2.3 LiDAR. 6.2.4 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). 6.3 Microwave sensing of subsidence. 6.4 Textural metrics. 6.5 Monitoring city growth. 6.6 Assessing the ecology of cities. 6.7 Urban climatology. 6.8 Air quality and air pollution. 6.9 Climate change as a threat to urbanization. 6.10 Key concepts. 7 Surface and ground water resources. 7.1 Remote sensing of inland water quality. 7.2 Remote sensing sediment load and pollution of inland waters. 7.3 Remote sensing non-coastal flooding. 7.4 Bathymetry of inland waters. 7.5 Mapping watersheds at the regional scale. 7.6 Remote sensing of land surface moisture. 7.7 Remote sensing of groundwater. 7.8 Key concepts. 8 Coral reefs, carbon and climate. 8.1 Introduction. 8.2 The status of the world's reefs. 8.3 Remote sensing of coral reefs. 8.4 Light, corals and water. 8.4.1 Light and the water surface. 8.4.2 Light and the water body. 8.4.3 Reflectance models for optically shallow waters. 8.4.4 Reflectance signatures of reef substrata. 8.5 Passive optical sensing. 8.6 Sensor-down versus reef-up sensing. 8.7 Spectral unmixing. 8.8 Image-derived bathymetry. 8.9 LiDAR. 8.10 Sonar. 8.11 Sub-bottom acoustic profiling. 8.12 Radar applications. 8.13 Class assemblages and the minimum mapping unit. 8.14 Change detection. 8.15 Key concepts. 9 Coastal impact of storm surges and sea level rise. 9.1 Predicting and monitoring coastal flooding. 9.2 Coastal currents and waves. 9.3 Mapping beach topography. 9.4 LiDAR bathymetry. CASE STUDY: LiDAR application to modelling sea level rise at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. 9.5 Key concepts. 10 Observing the oceans. 10.1 Introduction. 10.2 Ocean colour, chlorophyll and productivity. 10.3 Hazardous algal blooms and other pollutants. 10.4 Sea surface temperature. CASE STUDY: Upwelling and El Nino. 10.5 Ocean salinity. 10.6 Physical ocean features. 10.6.1 Sea surface elevation and ocean currents. 10.6.2 Sea surface winds. 10.6.3 Ocean waves. 10.6.4 Oil slicks and other surface features. 10.7 Ocean observing systems. 10.8 Marine GIS. 10.9 Key concepts. 11 Monitoring Earth's atmosphere. 11.1 The status of Earth's atmosphere. 11.2 Atmospheric remote sensing. 11.3 The 'A- Train' satellite constellation. 11.3.1 Dancing on the A- Train. 11.4 Remote sensing atmospheric temperature. 11.5 Atmospheric remote sensing of ozone. 11.6 Atmospheric remote sensing of carbon dioxide. 11.7 Remote sensing atmospheric dust. CASE STUDY: Spaceborne monitoring of African dust events. 11.8 Clouds. 11.9 Forecasting Earth's atmosphere. 11.10 Atmospheric models and reality. 11.11 Hurricanes. CASE STUDY: Hurricane Katrina. 11.12 Key concepts. 12 Observing the cryosphere. 12.1 Introduction. 12.2 The history and status of the polar ice sheets. 12.3 Ice and sea level. 12.4 Ice and climate. 12.5 Present ice loss in context. 12.6 Remote sensing of the Earth's ice sheets. 12.6.1 Passive optical and thermal remote sensing. 12.6.2 Passive microwave remote sensing. 12.6.3 Active microwave remote sensing. 12.6.4 Active optical remote sensing - ICESat. 12.7 Ice sheet mass balance. CASE STUDY: Disintegration of the Larsen and Wilkins ice shelves. 12.8 Remote sensing permafrost. 12.9 Key concepts. 13 Effective communication of global change information using remote sensing. 13.1 Global environmental change as an interdisciplinary issue. 13.2 Effective communication through accessibility of data. 14 Looking ahead: future developments. 14.1 Emerging technologies. 14.1.1 Fusion in remote sensing. 14.1.2 Hyper-spatial satellites. 14.1.3 Hyperspectral hyper-spatial satellites. 14.2 The near future. 14.3 The more distant future. 14.4 Advanced image analysis techniques. 14.5 Looking ahead at a changing Earth. References. Index.

The Integrated Ocean Observing System High-Frequency Radar Network: Status and Local, Regional, and National Applications

Abstract: A national high-frequency radar network has been created over the past 20 years that provides hourly 2-D ocean surface current velocity fields in near real time from a few km offshore out to approximately 200 km. This preoperational network is made up of more than 100 radars from 30 different institutions. The Integrated Ocean Observing System efforts have supported the standards-based ingest and delivery of these velocity fields to a number of applications such as coastal search and rescue, oil spill response, water quality monitoring, and safe and efficient marine navigation. Thus, regardless of the operating institution or location of the radar systems, emergency response managers, and other users, can rely on a common source and means of obtaining and using the data. Details of the history, the physics, and the application of high-frequency radar are discussed with successes of the integrated network highlighted.

Operation and Application of a Regional High-Frequency Radar Network in the Mid-Atlantic Bight

Abstract: The Mid-Atlantic Regional Coastal Ocean Observing System (MARCOOS) High-Frequency Radar Network, which comprises 13 long-range sites, 2 medium-range sites, and 12 standard-range sites, is operated as part of the Integrated Ocean Observing System. This regional implementation of the network has been operational for 2 years and has matured to the point where the radars provide consistent coverage from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. A concerted effort was made in the MARCOOS project to increase the resiliency of the radar stations from the elements, power issues, and other issues that can disable the hardware of the system. The quality control and assurance activities in the Mid-Atlantic Bight have been guided by the needs of the Coast Guard Search and Rescue Office. As of May 2009, these quality-controlled MARCOOS High-Frequency Radar totals are being served through the Coast Guard's Environmental Data Server to the Coast Guard Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System. In addition to the service to U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Operations, this data supports water quality, physical oceanographic, and fisheries research throughout the Mid-Atlantic Bight.

A Global Plankton Diversity Monitoring Program

Abstract: Plankton are the base of marine food webs, essential to sustaining fisheries and other marine life. Continuous Plankton Recorders (CPRs) have sampled plankton for decades in both hemispheres and several regional seas. CPR research has been integral to advancing understanding of plankton dynamics and informing policy and management decisions. We describe how the CPR can contribute to global plankton diversity monitoring, being cost-effective over large scales and providing taxonomically resolved data. At OceanObs09 an integrated network of regional CPR surveys was envisaged and in 2011 the existing surveys formed the Global Alliance of CPR Surveys (GACS). GAGS first focused on strengthening the dataset by identifying and documenting CPR best practices, delivering training workshops, and developing an integrated database. This resulted in the initiation of new surveys and manuals that enable regional surveys to be standardized and integrated. GACS is not yet global, but it could be expanded into the remaining oceans; tropical and Arctic regions are a priority for survey expansion. The capacity building groundwork is done, but funding is required to implement the GACS vision of a global plankton sampling program that supports decision-making for the scientific and policy communities. A key step is an analysis to optimize the global sampling design. Further developments include expanding the CPR for multidisciplinary measurements via additional sensors, thus maximizing the ship-of-opportunity platform. For example, defining pelagic ecoregions based on plankton and ancillary data could support high seas Marine Protected Area design. Fulfillment of Aichi Target 15, the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, and delivering the Essential Ocean Variables and Essential Biodiversity Variables that the Global Ocean Observing System and Group on Earth Observation's Biodiversity Observation Network have, respectively, defined requires the taxonomic resolution, spatial scale and time-series data that the CPR approach provides. Synergies with global networks exploiting satellite data and other plankton sensors could be explored, realizing the Survey's capacity to validate earth observation data and to ground-truth emerging plankton observing platforms. This is required for a fully integrated ocean observing system that can understand global ocean dynamics to inform sustainable marine decision-making.